Firecrest

I had planned to visit Conway RSPB reserve this weekend in the hope of seeing the starling roost.
By pure coincidence there was a flock of Waxwings at nearby Llandudno, a bird which I will always go out of my way to see (photos in the next post). Unfortunately, due to family commitments I couldn't stay long with the Waxwings so I drove to Conway RSPB for a coffee. After a delicious bowl of parsnip and apple soup, I was enjoying my coffee when my son, Adam, pointed out a bird in the bushes right outside the cafe window; it was a Firecrest!
Camera in hand, I shot out of the cafe and managed to grab a few shots of this beautiful, but elusive, sprite as it made its way along a small hedge. The bird then flew to the car park and I did not see it again all afternoon, but what a great sighting.
The starlings started to arrive at about 4pm in flocks varying in size from a few individuals to hundreds, but none were in the mood to perform their aerial ballet and they all dived straight into the reedbed to roost. But, nevertheless it was a great afternoon's birding.

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Norfolk in October

Stoatally Amazing

Leighton Moss

My friend Jane and I visited this fabulous RSPB reserve towards the end of October in the hope of photographing Kingfishers on the Eric Morecombe pools. Unfortunately the Kingfisher did not show but there is always plenty to see at this amazing site.
One of the highlights was undoubtedly the Bearded Tits visiting the grit trays on the public causeway. We nearly missed them as they tend to show well first thing in the morning and we didn't arrive until 10. But we did see at least three birds including a stunning male.
Other highlights included Marsh Tit, Mediterranean Gull, two Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk and a mini starling roost - I'm sure the numbers will pick up as winter approaches. The Red Deer were bellowing loudly from the reedbed but were very difficult to see, but a stag did splash across  the pool in front of the Tim Jackson hide. Mostly we could just see antlers moving above the reeds! The day finished with a beautiful sunset followed by a delicious curry in Carnforth.

Female Bearded Tit, near the grit trays on
the public causeway.

Adult winter-plumaged Mediterranean Gull.

Male Chaffinch - I have photographed a lot of Chaffinches recently,
but despite being extremely common they are quite attractive birds.

Marsh Tit - Leighton Moss is an excellent place to see this species.

Coots are one of the quintessential birds of the reserve and are
full of character.

Sunset from Tim Jackson hide - there were at least three Red Deer
Stags hidden in the reedbed.

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Friday 13th

Insects and Birds

Hellrunner

For the past few years the good people at Trailplus have organised extreme trail running events at Delamere Forest in Cheshire and named them, with some justification, Hellrunner!
Unfortunately for the two weeks leading up to this race last Saturday I had been suffering from a bad dose of manflu and hadn't done any real training since the Liverpool Marathon. Being a typical runner I was undeterred and turned up at a cold Delamere thinking that if I felt rough I could easily drop out and walk back to my car.
Over 2000 hardy souls lined up at the start and were entertained by a fabulous drum band, until the devil appeared (really!) and the race got under way. The first mile is uphill to the radio masts before a return through the start area before the hordes enter the forest proper. What follows has to be experienced to be believed; quality trail running along narrow tracks, up and down near-vertical hills, through freezing streams and interminable mud. There was even a disco situated near the first waist-deep bog.
Despite growing fatigue and cold, all this was familiar territory to experienced Hellrunners who have completed this 11ish mile course before. But the cunning guys at Trailplus played a blinder by changing the course at about 10 miles and directing the runners through Lucifer's Lake! This new obstacle was a pool of freezing water of undetermined length; I have heard estimates of between 200 metres and half a mile, I suppose it depends how long you were in it for. The bottom of this icy obstacle was unseen and uneven, runners were reduced to hanging on to small trees as they sank to their shoulders as they struggled to cross to the other side. With no feeling from the waist down I clambered up the far side and continued running.
A few miles further on the final trial, the Bog of Doom, held no fear after the death cold iciness of the Lake.
Large crowds of supporters gather here to cheer on their friends and to witness the spectacle of thousands of crazed runners ploughing through the mud.
A final run around the start area and a sprint to the end saw me finish in 56th place in a respectable time of 1 hour and 48 mins. After a hosing down by the local fire brigade (I told you runners are crazy!) I got changed and shared some very welcome mugs of coffee and bacon rolls with my friend Jane.

In the Bog of Doom
Photo courtesy of RandR Photos

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Liverpool Marathon

Sandstone Trail

Crib Goch

I walked up Snowdon for the first time in August 2011. A month later I walked the "Snowdon Horseshoe" taking in the beautiful ridge of Crib Goch. I only took a compact camera with me as I was concentrating on the walk not the photographs, but the pictures were still good enough for a compilation video.

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Watkin Path

Tryfan

 

Norfolk in October

My family and I spent a long weekend in the bird-filled county of Norfolk at the beginning of October. Unfortunately for a birdwatcher like myself the weather conditions were not conducive to the arrival of many migrants or rare birds. It was sunny and calm nearly every day, unlike the end of the month which was dominated by easterly winds and fog; these conditions produced large falls of thrushes and other passerines on the east and south coasts, but also unfortunately resulted in the demise of many birds that landed in the sea exhausted.
But back to my weekend in Norfolk. Pink-footed Geese were arriving in reasonable numbers and the one continental migrant that I saw regularly was the Jay. The only rarity of note during my stay was a Pectoral Sandpiper at Kelling Water Meadows, it has been a good autumn for this nearctic wader and this was my second sighting of this species this year.
We stayed on the outskirts of Cley in view of the famous windmill, and were treated to good views of Barn Owl most evenings. The nearby reedbed at Cley Norfolk Naturalists Trust Reserve also held good numbers of Bearded Tits.

There seem to be an inordinate number of pheasants around at the
 moment. As this photo shows they are beautiful birds, but they
have a significant detrimental effect on our native invertebrates.

This Blue Tit, the Long-tailed Tit and the Pheasant were all
photographed in the cottage garden at Cley.

A stunning male Bearded Tit at Cley.

This Barn Owl was observed catching a Shrew, which was duly
 stolen by a Kestrel; fascinating behaviour.

Barn Owl before being mugged.

Lapwing at Cley

Dunnock in its usual brambly habitat.

Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Kelling, record shot.

This Chaffinch and juvenile Goldfinch were photographed at
Burton Mere in Cheshire at the end of September while waiting
and failing to see a juvenile Sabine's Gull.

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Norfolk

Wildlife of the Azores

Liverpool Marathon

I haven't had much time to post recently as I have been to Norfolk (photos coming soon) and I've taken part in a couple of local races.
On the 30th of September I ran the "A" race along Cheshire's picturesque Sandstone Trail. This route starts in Duckington and finishes in Delamere, a distance of 17.1 miles with 655m of climbing. It was the first time that I had raced the whole route but I had left my Garmin on the kitchen table so I didn't judge the early pace very well and went off too fast. I paid for this later in the race when I slowed considerably but I still managed to run up all the hills. I was the 33rd finisher and the second in the M50 category. It was all a training run for my next race, the Liverpool Marathon.
I haven't run an Autumn marathon before and with the start for the Liverpool Marathon being only a couple of miles down the road I decided to enter this local event. I normally train for 16 weeks for my Spring marathons, but I entered this race quite late so attempted to cram my training into just 8 weeks.
The morning of the 14th dawned clear and cold; a weak autumn sun brought little warmth to the thousands of runners gathered under the trees in Birkenhead Park. From here it was possible to see the Anglican Cathedral on the other side of the River Mersey, not far from the dreaded hill of Upper Parliament Street 18 miles along the course. The race started promptly at 9.30 and 3,500 marathon and 1000 10k runners started on their individual journeys.
The course took the runners across Four Bridges then along to New Brighton, where the 10k finished. The marathon runners continued along Egremont Promenade and enjoyed stunning views of the historic Liverpool skyline. From here the race re-crossed Four Bridges and went into the Birkenhead Tunnel via Hamilton Square. The tunnel was eerily quite after the cheering and singing in the Square; only the sound of breathing and the patter of running shoes broke the silence as we crossed the half-way point. That was until we approached the tunnel junction that leads to the waterfront; a distant drumming was heard that increased in volume as the runners approached the exit. As we burst into the daylight we were greeted with the inspirational beats of the Batala drum band combined with rapturous applause from hundreds of supporters; this is what marathon running is all about!
The sun was shining brightly now so I was glad of my sunglasses. A mile out and back brought us back past the drum band then under the shadow of the iconic Liver Buildings. A few more miles and I was plodding up Upper Parliament Street. My family had gathered at the top of the hill and passed me a welcome energy drink. The course then wove through Princes Park and Sefton Park. It was here that I slowed and almost came to a halt. Marathon running at these times is totally psychological, mind over matter; your legs don't get you through the tough miles your brain does. I took stock as I plodded under the yellowing leaves on the trees, glad of  the sparse support here, making use of the relative quiet to have a think. Only 5 miles to go including a nice downhill, so I ignored the desire to stop and walk and dug in and pushed on.
Those last few miles went surprisingly quickly and I managed to pass a few other runners, some of whom had been reduced to a walk. I passed the 25mile mark as I increased my speed down Upper Parliament Street, glancing at the masses walking up the hill some 7 miles behind. Running along the Strand I could see the Liver Buildings in the distance so I knew the finish was not far. I rounded the corner at Mann Island and blew kisses and waved at the crowds as I crossed the line in 3 hours 18 minutes. I was 167th overall and 12th in my age group.
I celebrated with a few beers and a burger in Albert Dock. It was a well-organised race and a fabulous experience, I'll probably be back next year.

The Finish of the Liverpool Marathon - photo by Adam Scovell

Looking rather shattered just after Beeston
Castle on the Sandstone Trail

Near Maiden Castle, I'm still smiling (far left).
Sandstone Trail photos courtesy of
Andrew Williams (Inspiring Images).

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                                                                  London Marathon 2012

Snowdon Mountain Race

Insects and birds

A few recent sunny days have provided me with the opportunity to make use of my macro lens; taking photos of mainly butterflies and dragonflies. The Pectoral Sandpiper at Inner Marsh Farm a week ago was too distant for anything other than "record" shots, so the Red Darters and Small Tortoiseshells were more than welcome. A beautiful Comma butterfly spent a few days in my back garden feeding on one of the many Sedums. A trip to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve produced sightings of Otter, Marsh Harrier and Kingfisher, but again all too distant for photography, the commoner birds were much more obliging.

 



Comma, making good use of the new decking, photographed in
 my back garden.

Red Darter, Inner Marsh Farm. Note fly prey in top photo.
 

Small Tortoiseshell, Inner Marsh Farm.
 

Grey Heron, Leighton Moss RSPB.

Moorhen, Leighton Moss RSPB.


 

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Butterflies, Dragonflies and BMX

Leighton Moss

BBC Wildlife Magazine

I read my first ever issue of BBC Wildlife in June 1984; with a bumble bee on the cover, it was placed carefully next to my bowl of Rice Krispies as I came down for breakfast. I haven't missed a copy since, but little did I think that one day my photographs might grace this illustrious magazine's pages.
I had a picture of a Ladybird Spider printed last year, and this October's issue has one of my Spotted Dolphin photos; it's a real thrill to see my photos in print.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin and calf in the Azores.

Ladybird Spider, Mount Ipsilou, Lesvos, 2011.

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Dolphins

Spotted Dolphins in the Azores